Chuck Klosterman is a renowned American author and essayist, whose work primarily revolves around American popular culture. He has been a prominent columnist for esteemed publications such as Esquire and ESPN, and has written "The Ethicist" column for The New York Times Magazine. With a prolific output of eleven books, including two novels and an essay collection, Klosterman has made a significant impact in the literary world. His work has been recognized with the ASCAP Deems Taylor award for music criticism in 2002.
Born in Breckenridge, Minnesota, as the youngest of seven children to Florence and William Klosterman, he is of German and Polish descent. Growing up on a farm in nearby Wyndmere, North Dakota, Klosterman developed a strong sense of identity that would later influence his writing. He graduated from Wyndmere High School in 1990 and went on to earn a degree from the University of North Dakota in 1994.
After completing his education, Klosterman began his career as a journalist in Fargo, North Dakota, and later moved to Akron, Ohio, where he worked as a reporter and arts critic for the Akron Beacon Journal. In 2002, he relocated to New York City, where he became a senior writer and columnist for Spin magazine. Throughout his career, Klosterman has written for a wide range of publications, including GQ, Esquire, The New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian, and The Washington Post. His magazine work has been anthologized in several notable publications, including Da Capo Press's Best Music Writing, Best American Travel Writing, and The Best American Nonrequired Reading.
Initially recognized for his rock writing, Klosterman has expanded his scope to cover sports, contributing articles to ESPN's Page 2 since November 8, 2005. His extensive work has led to numerous awards and accolades, including the ASCAP Deems Taylor award for music criticism in 2002.
In addition to his written work, Klosterman has also made appearances in several documentaries and television shows. In 2012, he appeared in the documentary Shut Up and Play the Hits, featuring his extended interview with LCD Soundsystem's frontman James Murphy. The following year, he appeared on episodes 6 and 7 of the first season of IFC's Documentary Now!, playing the role of a music critic for the fictional band "The Blue Jean Committee".
Klosterman's eighth book, I Wear the Black Hat, was published in 2013, exploring the paradox of villainy within a heavily mediated culture. His ninth book, But What If We're Wrong? Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past, was published on June 7, 2016, visualizing the contemporary world as it will appear in the future to those who will perceive it as the distant past.
